The Dallas Cowboys roster is about to get interesting. With training camp approaching, several players who contributed for the Cowboys in 2025 find themselves on the bubble heading into 2026. 

Below, I list five Cowboys that I projected as roster cuts in my latest stab at the team’s 53-man roster. From quarterback competitions to position switches, the depth chart is stacked at certain positions, and roster math is going to force some tough decisions. Let’s break it down.

Joe Milton faces an uphill battle

I had Sam Howell making the 53-man roster as Dak Prescott’s backup in my post-minicamp projection, and honestly, it looks like a coin toss right now. The Cowboys are having Howell and Milton openly compete for the No. 2 job. Through OTAs and minicamp, neither appears to have a clear lead.

Milton didn’t do much in 2025. He attempted only 24 passes, 13 of which came in the season finale. But there’s a lot a backup quarterback has to do week in and week out at the NFL level, so he had to be on the list. Here’s the thing: I don’t believe Howell winning this competition would be a shocker. 

The Cowboys brought him in for a reason, and I believe that reason is they aren’t sold on Milton’s accuracy. It was an issue with the Tennessee Vols, it was an issue with the New England Patriots, and it was an issue in 2025 with the Cowboys, mostly in the preseason. Had he been eligible in terms of pass attempts, Milton would have ranked dead last among NFL quarterbacks in on-target percentage, according to Pro Football Reference.

Milton needs to beat himself as much as he needs to beat Howell.

Malik Davis could be a victim of roster math

Nowadays, NFL teams commonly carry between four and five running backs, and that’s including a fullback. That doesn’t bode well for Malik Davis, who at one point last year was the clear No. 2 running back behind Javonte Williams.

Davis finished the 2025 season with only a 13% snap count, but he’s the only running back with significant experience on the roster besides Javonte Williams. On paper, Davis is a much more experienced player than second-year backs Jaydon Blue and Phil Mafah. But I’m not sure he provides the upside those two do. Reports indicated Blue and Mafah were splitting second-team snaps during the offseason program, and they’re different builds (Blue a speedster and Mafah a thumper), giving Dallas flexibility. Davis has proven to be a decent backup, but he could simply lose out as the Cowboys prioritize younger legs.

In my 53-man roster projection, both young backs made it while Davis was left on the outside. The Cowboys would likely consider him for a practice squad spot in such a scenario. 

James Houston could be out

Houston’s pass rushing earned him a 28% defensive snap count in 2025, and at times fans and media members alike argued he deserved more playing time. But the Cowboys drafted Malachi Lawrence in the first round, added Rashan Gary via trade, and Donovan Ezeiruaku is entering Year 2 of his career. That’s three locks at edge rusher before you even count fourth-round rookie LT Overton out of Alabama (who could spend time at DT as well).

Dallas also re-signed Sam Williams, who looks like a solid scheme fit for defensive coordinator Christian Parker. Williams’s first few years in Dallas didn’t go how you’d want for a second-round pick, but the Cowboys brought him back because Parker’s defense resembles what Williams did at Ole Miss. Factor in recently-signed EDGE Charles Snowden, who has NFL experience with the Las Vegas Raiders, and Houston lands squarely on the roster bubble.

Marist Liufau’s position switch complicates things

I had Liufau out of my projection for the same reasons as Houston. There are too many edge rushers on this team. Liufau started his career at inside linebacker, but the Cowboys are training him as a pass rusher in 2026. Cowboys national scout Ross Wuensche recently said he believes Liufau has “a new life” and that “he’s going to be a really cool matchup piece for us.”

However, anytime you’re asked to change positions, it’s not usually a good sign for your roster chances. What Liufau does have going for him is that he ranked second on the team in special teams snaps, which could be valuable in the eyes of special teams coordinator Nick Sorensen. If the coaching staff likes him enough on defense while a coordinator sponsors him on special teams, Liufau could end up being a roster surprise. But in my projection, I had him out.

Reddy Steward’s 47% snap count might not save him

Steward was essentially Matt Eberflus’s nickel cornerback as the Cowboys navigated life after Jourdan Lewis. He was a solid open-field tackler but struggled in coverage. With first-round pick Caleb Downs expected to take the starting nickel role early, Steward’s path to a roster spot narrows considerably.

Cobie Durant was training at nickel during the offseason program in addition to outside cornerback. Caelen Carson took first-team reps with Daron Bland out with an injury, suggesting he’s higher on the depth chart than many assumed. Shavon Revel Jr. is going to make the team. Devin Moore, a fourth-round pick, is also a lock. Steward is fighting for the fifth or sixth cornerback spot on the roster.